The "Dawson's Creek" actress, 33, made headlines last weekwhen she filed for divorce from "Mission: Impossible" actorCruise after nearly six years of marriage and one child.

While Holmes, Cruise and representatives for both haveremained quiet about the reasons for the high-profile split,speculation in the media is that Suri, now at the age when shebegins a formal education, and the Church of Scientology, ofwhich Cruise is a key member, are central to the breakup.

"What's interesting is that there's three players in thiscase - the mother, the father and this very controversialconcept of Scientology," said New York-based divorce lawyerLubov Stark.

"The daughter is in the middle of this whole divorce. Sheseems to have been raised in Scientology up to this age, so ifthe judge comes in and gives custody to Katie Holmes, she canchange (Suri's) religion," Stark said.

The Church of Scientology was founded by science-fictionwriter L. Ron Hubbard, and it describes its practices as areligion. The organization believes man is an immortal beingwhose experience extends beyond one lifetime, and it hasattracted followers including Cruise and John Travolta.

But some observers - including media mogul Rupert Murdoch -liken it to a cult. Critics think the group coerces followers tothink like they do, and they accuse Scientologists of harassingpeople who seek to quit.

On Sunday, following last week's news of Holmes' divorcefiling, Murdoch took to Twitter and called Scientology "a veryweird cult" and Scientologists "creepy, maybe even evil."

SCIENTOLOGY AND THE MEDIA

"Scientology is a potentially unsafe, if not dangerous,organization," said Rick Ross, a New Jersey-based expert oncults and controversial movements who has served as an expertwitness in court cases.

"I've received complaint after complaint over the years fromformer members."

Ross said Holmes' custody battle could hinge on whetherCruise decides to fight Holmes for custody of Suri and how muchinformation comes out about Scientology practices, which theChurch may not find in its interest.

Representatives for the Church did not respond to Reuters'requests for comment.

Ross said it is unlikely the Church would get directlyinvolved in the custody battle as it could bring negativepublicity, but he believed members could leak information to"intimidate or discredit" Holmes.

Lawyer Stark said custody proceedings will differsubstantially depending on whether they take place in New York,where Holmes filed, or California if Cruise can get the casemoved to the state in which he resides.

In California, Stark said the courts presume joint custody,leading to a greater likelihood a judge would give both Holmesand Cruise the ability to make decisions for Suri.

"If the judge says they should have joint custody inCalifornia, then Katie would not have the ability to take Suriout of this religion altogether," said Stark.

In New York, the courts look at the best interests of achild and who's going to make decisions and care for theyoungster. In that case, a judge might be asked to considerCruise's religion, although the possibility appears remote.

"Religion can always come into it, but it's rare for acustody battle," said Josh Forman, a matrimonial attorney andpartner at Chemtob Moss Forman & Talbert in New York.

Like Ross, Forman believed any negative publicity from along trial might lead to a private settlement.

"I don't think it would be very good for Tom's career if heis seen as having a huge, dragged-out custody battle with Katie.I think they should really settle, and I see this as settling."